PHL 218 Discrimination at the Workplace: An Ethical Examination
Part One: Background
Ethical Frameworks Related to Human Actions
Ethical frameworks guide human actions by providing structured approaches to
determining what is right or wrong· As noted by Singh and Mishra (2018), ethical theories such
as utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue help people or organizations decide what is suitable and
appropriate for any situation. These frameworks affect action by setting up norms for conduct
and choices to ensure coherence and responsibility in a given environment. Morals differ from
values in that the former is more individualistic and is derived from cultural, religious or family
upbringings. At the same time, the latter has to do with a systematic set of principles to guide
behaviour in certain situations (Bentahila et al., 2021). Occupational ethics, as the name
suggests, refer to a given occupation and specify the code of how employees of a particular
occupation should behave. International or global ethics can be defined as the principles of right
and wrong that are beyond cultural or national contexts and encompass global concerns like
human rights and the environment.
Professional and Global Ethics
Professional ethics are the codes of behaviour and ethical norms inherent in a particular
occupation. These guidelines assist in upholding credibility as well as emphasising trust in a
given field. According to Donaldson (2016), professional ethics refers to principles that guide
behaviours and maintain accountability in specific fields for the interests of the public. On the
other hand, global ethics refers to the ethical challenges that come across nations and cultures.
This worldview entails everybody in the worldwide community being considered when making
decisions while promoting justice, equity, and sustainability.
Western, Eastern, and Indigenous Tribal Ethics
The ethical systems of the West originate from the Greek philosophy and are
characterized by individualism, self-determination, and justice. In the Western ethical system,
elements such as reason and abstract rules are similar to deontological ethics by Kant or
utilitarianism by Mill, as noted by Marques (2015). Confucianism and Buddhism, prevalent in
the East, hold the core values of harmonization, moderation and mutual benefit. These
frameworks focus more on relations, the community, and the interconnectedness of all that exists
in the universe. It is worth noting that Indigenous Tribal ethical ideologies tend to base
themselves on the relationships between peoples, nature, and the spiritual world (Cajete, 2016).
They recognize the sacredness of life, the duty to protect the earth and its resources, and the
importance of group consensus.
Ethics is critical in any society since communities create cultures and subcultures for the
appropriate management of moral issues in societies· This implies that Western, Eastern and
Indigenous Tribal ethical ideologies are rooted in unique cultural practices and past experiences·
Western ethics can be described as self-oriented and abstract, while Eastern ethics are based on
balance and interdependence, and Indigenous Tribal ethics are linked to the concepts of
togetherness, nature, and spirits·
Using Ethical Frameworks
Ethical frameworks serve multiple purposes, including providing a structured approach to
moral decision-making, fostering consistency in ethical behaviour, and promoting
accountability· These frameworks help individuals and organizations navigate ethical dilemmas
by offering clear guidelines and principles· Culture influences the creation of ethical frameworks
by shaping the values, norms, and priorities that underpin moral reasoning (Bentahila et al·,
2021)· Different cultural contexts result in diverse ethical perspectives, reflecting the unique
historical, social, and environmental factors that influence a community's moral outlook.
Part Two: Analyze Your Chosen Topic
Ethical Framework of Discrimination at the WorkPlace
Discrimination at the workplace can be examined through virtue ethics, which
emphasizes the development of moral character and virtues. Virtue ethics, as articulated by
Aristotle, focuses on the cultivation of virtues such as justice, fairness, and respect. According to
Aristotle, a virtuous person strives to treat others with dignity and fairness, recognizing their
inherent worth (Papouli, 2019). In the context of workplace discrimination, virtue ethics
condemn discriminatory practices as they reflect a lack of virtuous character and undermine the
moral integrity of individuals and the organization. Since virtue ethics work to eradicate vices
and uphold values such as equality and respect, this theory offers a solid foundation for tackling
and mitigating discrimination at the workplace, guaranteeing that all employees receive fair
treatment.
Ethical Framework Influenced Historical Decision Making
In the past, workplace discrimination has been shaped by ethical theories: for instance,
utilitarianism, which looks at the impact of actions. According to Mill (2015), in the context of
employment, decisions that discriminated the minorities in favor of the majority groups were
undertaken based on perceived gains to the majority. However, this approach pays no attention to
the rights and dignity of the minority, showing the flaws of the utilitarian ethical system in
dealing with discrimination.
Impact of Ethical Decisions
The ethical choices have significant impacts in the patterns of working environment and
personal well-being. For instance, the enactment of anti-discrimination legislations which are
reinforced by deontological theories has the potential of reducing discrimination in the
workplace, and thus improving employee morale and productivity (Bentahila et al., 2021). They
promote fairness and justice in the workplace, favoring employees, hence improving their level
of trust and loyalty. Furthermore, ethical standards attract talented workers, as well as unlock the
potential for innovation and creativity within the company. On the other hand, the lack of ethical
considerations continuously promotes discrimination, which results in lower morale, increased
turnover, and legal implications. Such negligence does not only affect the independent employee
but also the overall organization image, morale and future development, underlining the
significance of ethical decision making in enhancing the employees’ well-being.
Alternative Perspective
From an Eastern ethical point of view, the issue of discrimination at the workplace can
and should be solved within a framework guided by the principles of harmony and the ethics of
relationships. According to Marques, J. (2015), the Eastern philosophies hold everyone as being
connected and the need to manage relationships. This would entail enculturation practices that
are pro-social and ensure everyone’s rights, dignity and equality as opposed to the rights of the
individual or the greatest good of the majority.
Part Three: Reflect
Your Morals and Values
My personal cultural ethics include fairness, respect, and equality that have been instilled
in me by my cultural background. As pointed out by Bentahila et al. (2021), cultural dimensions
like individualism/collectivism determine how people view/consider ethical standards. Because
of my background in a western culture, I have a clear understanding of individual rights and
justice, therefore being against discrimination at the workplace.
Your Cultural Bias
Cultural biases may affect my ethical decision-making in such a way that they may
influence my standards of ethical principles as well as my judgments. For example, my Western
way of thinking focuses on individual rights and justice, which could lead to the disregard of
relationships as a key aspect embraced in Eastern or Indigenous Tribal ethics. It is, therefore,
important for me to understand these biases in order to reduce their influence on my ethical
decisions.
Impact of Cultural Influences
Culture plays a role in ethical decision-making because the Culture determines the
standards of acceptable behavior. When it comes to discrimination in the workplace, it is crucial
to understand cultural perceptions of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the organization. Using
multiple ethical frameworks, I can assist organizations to create better and more efficient
approaches toward discrimination.
Diverse Ethical Perspectives
Ethical relativism has practical value since it enriches the ethical agenda and enhances
the inclusiveness of the ethical decision-making process. As pointed out by Margues (2015), the
application of multiple ethical perspectives can strengthen organizational stability and flexibility,
thus promoting diversity and equality within organizations. Overall, by embracing the value of
diversity, I think that organizations can effectively respond to the multi-faceted nature of
discrimination in the workplace.
References
Bentahila, L., Fontaine, R., & Pennequin, V. (2021). Universality and cultural diversity in moral
reasoning and judgment.CFrontiers in Psychology,C12, 764360.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.764360
Cajete, G. A. (2016). Indigenous education and the development of indigenous community
leaders.CLeadership,C12(3), 364-376. https://doi.org/10.1177/1742715015610412
Donaldson, T. (2016). Values in tension: Ethics away from home. InCReadings and Cases in
International Human Resource ManagementC(pp. 403-415). Routledge.
Marques, J. (2015). Universalism and Utilitarianism: An evaluation of two popular moral
theories in business decision making.CThe Journal of Values-Based Leadership,C8(2), 3.
https://scholar.valpo.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1124&context=jvbl
Mill, J. S. (2015).COn liberty, utilitarianism, and other essays. Oxford University Press, USA.
https://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/78790/1/WRAP_02%20Mill%20Intro%20FinalMP.pdf
Papouli, E. (2019). Aristotle's virtue ethics is a conceptual framework for the study and practice
of social work in modern times. European Journal of Social Work,C22(6), 921-934.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13691457.2018.1461072
Singh, A. K., & Mishra, N. K. (2018). Ethical theory and business.CInternational Journal of
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